Sports-Partner tie-up strengthens IEC Telecom’s focus on the Scandinavian yacht racing sector
Corporate Updates

Sports-Partner tie-up strengthens IEC Telecom’s focus on the Scandinavian yacht racing sector

07 Mar 2019

Global satellite communications solutions provider IEC Telecom has underlined its commitment to the burgeoning Scandinavian yacht racing sector by teaming up with Sports-Partner AS, organisers of the iconic Skagen Race.

The deal, which sees IEC-Telecom come in as a major sponsor of Skagen as well as a host of other regattas organised by Sports-Partner, is the first such tie up between the two companies. It gives IEC Telecom an important opportunity to showcase its state-of-the-art satellite communications and safety and survival equipment – vital additions to any successful yacht racing team’s itinerary.

At the end of May this year, over 2,000 sailors, from novices to skilled yachts people, will sail from different ports in Norway and Denmark towards Skagen in Denmark. The event, which is held over three days from May 29th to May 31st regularly attracts over 250 yachts and is one of the highlights of the Scandinavian yachting season.

A few days after the Skagen race, IEC Telecom can be found at the Marstrand Big Boat Race (May 31- June 2) in Sweden, followed by the Hollænderseilasen race during the last weekend of August in Norway.

IEC Telecom will use the various regattas to exhibit a range of its products and services available to the yacht racing sector. These include satellite equipment with voice and data services from Thuraya, Inmarsat, Telenor Satellite and Iridium that enable people to stay connected no matter where they travel.

IEC Telecom is also a distributor for OceanSignal and ACR with a full range of maritime survival equipment such as AIS, EPIRB, SART and emergency lights. It also supplies antennas for VHF/UHF, GSM/LTE and AIS as well as the entire range of Scanstrut with antenna mounts, pods, waterproof casings and wireless chargers.

Alf Stian Mauritz, CEO of IEC Telecom Norway said the tie-up with Sports-Partner provided the right level of access to this important market while allowing IEC Telecom to maintain its growth strategy in a cost-effective way.

He added: “When it comes to communications and safety equipment we can satisfy any demands the yacht teams may have from radios, to GSM and to satellite communications, whether they are inside or outside GSM boundaries.

“Our goal is to become a recognized quality brand within the yachting and sailing markets. Our focus on reliable communication and safety solutions will open new ways of communicating at sea, in an effective yet safer way. By teaming up with Sports-Partner, we feel confident IEC telecom will be presented in the best possible way,” he stressed.

According to Lars Erik Wilhelmsen, CEO of Sports-Partner, the Scandinavian yacht race sector is growing. “After decades of decline in participation numbers, we are experiencing growth in numbers across Scandinavia. The Scandinavian yacht racing market consists of a few traditional, classic yacht races like Færder, Tjörn Runt, Skagen Race, Hollænder Race and Skjælland Race.

“Newcomers, like Marstrand Big Boat Race, SilverRudder and others are on the rise, challenging the established, and pushing the development of Scandinavian yacht-races. The total number of participating yachts in these classic offshore-races adds up to approximately 3,000 yachts,” he added.

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